Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations
1-1-2018
The Spirit-Led Coach: an Alternative Approach to
Athletic Coaching
Sean Silverii
This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University.Find out more about the program.
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GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
THE SPIRIT-LED COACH:
AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO ATHLETIC COACHING
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO
THE FACULTY OF PORTLAND SEMINARY
IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
BY
SEAN SILVERII
PORTLAND, OREGON
Portland Seminary George Fox University
Portland, Oregon
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________
DMin Dissertation
________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of
Sean Silverii
has been approved by
the Dissertation Committee on February 20, 2018
for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics and Future Studies.
Dissertation Committee:
Primary Advisor: Roger Nam, PhD
ii Copyright © 2018 by Sean Silverii
iii
The myth of a “self-made man” becomes ever apparent when working on a project such
as this.
Thank you…
To my wife for life, who has always seen something in me I often fail to see
myself. Your sacrifice has been greater than any, including my own. You are my favorite.
To my parents for their constant love and support. You live out The Story well.
To my Pulse Albany peeps. You epitomize a comfortable/uncomfortable
atmosphere.
To my leadership team, I could not ask for a better group to serve and sacrifice
alongside.
To Steve Pulis, Roger Nam, and Phil Carnes for your constant ear and words of
wisdom. You three manifest apprenticeship.
To Ben Phillips. Your fingerprints are on each page of this project. Words cannot
express my gratitude. Thank you my brother!
To David Phillips, for your constant encouragement, wisdom, and insight. Your
perspective is both challenging and refreshing.
To Candice Peter. Your eye never ceases to amaze me. You made this project
come to life.
To Chad Moore, and Mark Robinson for keeping me on track and asking
questions.
To the church council, staff, and people of Hope Church. Your love and
iv
To all the countless friends and family who have abided, when it would have been
v CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ... vi
SECTION I: THE PROBLEM... 1
Introduction ... 1
What Happens in Church, Spills into Society ... 3
The United States of A-ME-rica ... 8
Transactional Coaching; Transfigurative Metaphor ... 11
Summary ... 22
SECTION II: ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS ... 25
Introduction ... 25
The Mentor-Coach Approach: Relationship Over Results ... 27
The Moral Approach: Ethics Over Ethos ... 31
The Look Within Approach: Spiritual Over Surface ... 35
Summary ... 38
SECTION III: THE THESIS ... 40
Introduction ... 40
A Brief History of a Pentecostal Movement in William J. Seymour: A Radical Future-Thinking Lover ... 41
A Spirit-Led Approach ... 55
Mission ... 58
Atmosphere Cultivation ... 66
Apprenticeship ... 78
SECTION IV: ARTIFACT DESCRIPTION ... 87
SECTION V: ARTIFACT SPECIFICATION ... 89
SECTION VI: POSTCRIPT ... 91
vi ABSTRACT
The world of sports is an approximate 620 billion dollar industry,1 claiming an
attendance of a little over 124 million fans in 2016 just within the top five professional
sports leagues.2 In the United States alone, it is estimated 20 to 30 million kids play
recreational sports, while another 10 million teenagers play interscholastically each year.3
With these factors in mind, all forms of power, greed, corruption, violence,
self-indulgence, etc. has seeped its way into athletics and culture like a virus. Recently, a
bleacher report revealed that findings of an FBI probe into college basketball is expected
to be released soon, potentially implicating up to fifty different NCAA programs for
corruption, bribery, and greed.4 The 330 day investigation will have huge repercussions
on players and coaches, including hall of fame coaches, and some have already been
arrested.5 From violence and sexual misconduct at Baylor University,6 to excusing hostile
1 Herve Collignon, Nicolas Sultan, and Clement Santander, "The Sports Market - Global
Management Consulting Firm," 2011, accessed December 3, 2016,
https://www.atkearney.com/documents/10192/6f46b880-f8d1-4909-9960-cc605bb1ff34.
2 "Global Attendances," Sporting Intelligence, January 5, 2017, accessed June 24, 2017,
http://www.sportingintelligence.com/finance-biz/business-intelligence/global-attendances/.
3 Joe Ehrmann, Paula Ehrmann, and Gregory Jordan, InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2011), 9.
4 Alec Nathan, "Report: Top College Basketball Coaches, Players, Programs Involved in
Corruption," Bleacher Report, February 15, 2018, accessed March 3, 2018,
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2759734-report-top-college-basketball-coaches-players-programs-involved-in-corruption.
5 Espn.com News Services, "Report: FBI Probe into NCAA Corruption Identifies Possible
Violations by Basketball Powers," ABC News, February 27, 2018, accessed March 3, 2018, http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/report-fbi-probe-ncaa-corruption-identifies-violations-basketball/story?id=53385710.
6 Jason Kirk, "We Finally Know More About Why Baylor Fired Art Briles," SBNation.com,
vii
atmospheres and suing one another such as South Carolina women’s basketball coach,7 it
is safe to say sports’ influence and corruption is not limited in scope, pouring out into all
facets of society.8 With this reality, the follower of Jesus has been given opportunity to
stand out and go about coaching differently.
One of many oversights in the Church past and present, is we tend to dismiss or
completely forget the Spirit’s activity within the throes of athleticism. Commonly,
evangelicals are obsessed with sports; we are fans, participants, and coaches, yet, society
at large has determined how the Christian ought to coach, versus the deep recesses of our
biblical Story. From volunteers of recreational teams to paid coaches at the highest levels,
there are apprentices of Jesus occupying coaching positions and very little has been
written from a Christian perspective on how to engage athletics. This research and
dissertation will focus on an alternative approach to athletic coaching, with an emphasis
on Pentecostal theology and how the former might influence the later.
Section I will animate the problem with current coaching methodologies, touching
on factors in American Church history which contribute to the problem and focusing
primarily on what is called transactional coaching. Section II will focus and expound on
three approaches to coaching, all of which generally fall under the category of
transactional. Section III will flesh out pneumatology and how a “Spirit-led” approach
differs from typical coaching strategies. Sections IV and V will briefly describe the
7 Dave Matter, "Mizzou AD Sterk Sued by South Carolina Women's Coach, Fined by SEC,"
Stltoday.com, February 22, 2018, accessed March 3, 2018,
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/mizzou-ad-sterk-sued-by-south-carolina-women-s-coach/article_c3d96831-9223-5f5d-9fed-9143a753e417.html.
8 Parag Khanna, Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization (New York, NY:
viii
artifact and outline the specifics. Section VI concludes with an important benediction for
all Christians, inspiring every apprentice of Jesus to apply the principles of a Spirit-led
coach in their area of ministry and mission. The artifact, in written form, concludes this
1
SECTION I: THE PROBLEM
Introduction
During my freshman year of college, our soccer team had started off on the wrong
foot. We were a gang of misfits who lacked motivation and direction; a community of
individuals starving to be led. Early on in our season we took to the road, facing off
against a team we had never lost to, something we were reminded of by our coach and
senior players. Fans, family, and friends crowded the stands only to watch us fall by the
score of 2-1, but they received more than they bargained. Without any debrief, our
red-hot soccer coach lined us up on the side line and proceeded to chew us out while we did
“down-and-back’s” for about 30 minutes.9 After a hard fought battle, in front of our
traveling fans, we were humiliated because for the first and only time in school history,
we fell short of victory against this specific team.
This was a turning point in our season. We would go 1-17-1, losing the rest of our
games until a miraculous regional playoff showdown. I do not fully blame our coach for
the team’s series of poor performances—we were not an easy group to lead. However,
this was a typical reaction, whether we lost every game or were on a winning streak. Our
soccer coach just did not know anything different; he was simply doing what he had
observed and experienced from his basketball coach while he was a player.
9 A “down-and-back” is a sprint from one sideline or end line to the next in a designated span of
Not every Christian coach, however, operates out of fear, anger, insecurities, and
the like. The head coach of a successful Oregon high school football team stated with
confidence that he is not developing athletes, but leaders: “Once you have leaders,
bullying does not become an issue.”10 He goes on to explain how his staff utilize the
game to teach life lessons from Scripture and have cultivated a culture of asking a lot of
questions. Even at a private school, however, he expressed his concern of the lack of
leadership and morality within culture, coaching, and athletics at large. Women’s high
school varsity basketball coach Mardy Benedict also stated his concern compared to
when he played sports: “It is a whole different game when it comes to sports today. Dads
are gone…culture is totally different.”11 Despite the lack of discipline and broken family
dynamics, he does not believe bullying and exerting power over his athletes is a way to
motivate.12
Coaching is becoming more and more complex, especially if one lives out a
biblical narrative. Coach Benedict spoke about the tension of representing Jesus while
being competitive, pulling out the best from each athlete, challenging them, and setting
parameters all at the same time. The current issues and problems within athletics is
mounting and this section will not attempt to address them all, however, the research will
make the argument that our Western mindset has been in part, shaped by Christianity.
Not everything is bad or wrong, but the Church has a major role to play in the woes of
current athletic coaching.
10 Matt Bane, "Christian Coaching Philosophy," telephone interview by author, September 27,
2016.
11 Mardy Benedict, “Christian Coaching Philosophy,” interview by author, August 3, 2017.
What Happens in Church, Spills into Society
In the Fall of 2003, a Las Vegas tourism department brainstorming meeting took
place with a goal to revolutionize the way people perceive the metropolis known as “Sin
City.”13 In the past, Vegas has been branded as a casino and gambling destination in the
middle of a desert oasis, touting no less than 30 million visitors annually since 1997.14
However, after a year of research led by ad agency R&R Partners, the team decided to
launch an ad campaign based off the concept of freedom.15 The slogan “What Happens
Here, Stays Here,” was cooked up and an atmosphere of “You can do whatever you want
here with no consequences” was launched. The problem is, such a indulgent,
self-centered slogan can never deliver upon its promise. A record 42 million visitors flocked
to the city hoping to escape reality and indulge in the freedom of anonymity, although
what happens in Vegas, inevitably spills over into all of society.16 For example, though
not directly linked to Las Vegas takes on the very characteristics of the ad campaign, in
July 2015 the Ashley Madison data hack exposed anonymous, secretive, sensitive
13 Samantha Shankman, "A Brief History of 'What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas'" The Week -
All you Need to Know About Everything that Matters, October 1, 2013, accessed July 1, 2017, http://theweek.com/articles/459434/brief-history-what-happens-vegas-stays-vegas.
14 Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), “Las Vegas Stats & Facts,” Las Vegas
Statistics & Frequently Asked Questions, February 1, 2017, accessed July 1, 2017, http://www.lvcva.com/stats-and-facts/.
15 Shankman.
information of men and women conducting adulterous affairs.17 Nothing stays truly
anonymous and the wreckage in our culture proves it.
“What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas,” is actually a small piece to the whole
story of the American Church. The United States as we know it, was founded on the
premise of freedom; a freedom to worship in peace and harmony.18 Puritans came to the
New World not to colonize, but to experiment; to privately and without interference,
create a pure church as they saw appropriate. The first settlers never intended to colonize,
evangelize, or territorialize in any way, although they morphed into doing so.19 This
concept of freedom permeates all facets of American culture and humanity in general.
We can make the calculated assumption Pilgrims simply wanted to be left alone.
Individualism and privatization has been weaved throughout the fabric of our nation from
her inception. As R&R Partners themselves conclude: “The emotional bond between Las
Vegas and its customers was freedom…the freedom to be someone we couldn’t be at
home… [The strategy is to] Speak to that need. Make an indelible connection between
Las Vegas and the freedom we all crave.”20
While Vegas has been tapping into a centuries old American belief, it causes more
damage than one would care to admit. Though the Puritan’s meant well, what happens in
private rarely stays there. In the book of Genesis, Joseph is caught in a lose/lose situation
17 Swati Khandelwal, "Ashley Madison to Pay $11.2 Million to Data Breach Victims," The Hacker
News, July 17, 2017, accessed March 3, 2018, https://thehackernews.com/2017/07/ashley-madison-data-breach.html.
18 Edwin S. Gaustad and Leigh Eric Schmidt, The Religious History of America: The Heart of the American Story from Colonial Times to Today (New York, NY: HarperOne, 2004), 51.
19 Ibid., 54.
with the wife of his master, Potiphar. Day after day, Potiphar’s wife playfully and
privately seduced the handsome Jewish man to sleep with her; no one will ever know.
Joseph rebuffs the position of privacy the Egyptian women held and fled from disaster. In
secret, Achan took foreign idols and added them to his belongings, attempting to cover up
his sin. The results were extreme and costly.21 King David lusted, coveted, slept with a
married woman, murdered her husband, and swept it all “under the rug.”22 The nation of
Israel felt they could get away with living a double-life by giving Yahweh their words
and nothing else. The chosen people hid their deeds in the darkness, triggering some
chilling words from Creator God to the prophet Isaiah, challenging the hypocrisy of
Israel’s ways.23 The enemy of light tempted Jesus while alone and isolated, to worship
someone besides Yahweh. Imagine the consequences if He took him up on his offer.
Ananias and Sapphira felt they would get away with keeping proceeds on a portion of
land through deceit, yet were struck down for it. Jesus’ metaphor of disgust toward the
city of Laodicea can easily be applied to today’s concept of Vegas freedom: “I know your
works: you are neither hot nor cold…So, because you are lukewarm…I will spit you out
of my mouth.”24
Nothing done within the freedom of secrecy and deceit remains isolated and
hidden. From the beginnings of American Christianity, infighting and splits, slander and
back-biting, have marked and spilled over into the whole of society. Is the Bride of Christ
21 Joshua 7:1, 10-26.
22 2 Samuel 11.
23 Isaiah 29:13-16.
responsible for a lot of good? Without question she was and continues to be. However,
our sometimes heinous actions toward one another led the way for a “freedom to do what
I want with little to no consequences” type of position. This abuse of freedom cannot be
blamed solely on a lack of godliness within society, but upon the Church who struggled
to fight fair, excused or ignored inappropriate conduct, and failed provide grace where it
was in short supply. For example, as colonialism was in its infancy, denominations began
to claim territory as Congregationalist, Anglican, Lutheran, etc. In 1651, Baptist pastor
John Clarke attempted to advance a young denomination’s cause into Maryland which
was Puritan territory. He and his companions were immediately arrested for this action.25
Although there may have been good intentions, the amount of fighting and
condemning of each other during the foundation of America is cringe worthy. Not only
were Protestants and Catholics at one another’s throats, Christians were both pro-revival
and anti-revival during both Awakenings, pro-war and pacifist, persecuted smaller sects
of Christianity such as the Quakers, viewed and treated Natives as lesser-than, were at
times violent, and found creative ways to protest, slander, provoke, and separate from one
another, all under the banner of Christianity.26 Territorialism brought out the worst in our
Christian forefathers, leading to greed and power.27 In addition to all this, it is appalling
to think back at the reality of a theological divide within Christianity on slavery. One of
the major reasons racial tension continues to exist can be linked to the twisting of
25 Gustad and Schmidt, 69.
26 Ibid., 13-14, 19, 61-62, 76-77, 81-83, 88-89, and 95.
27 Nancy Koester, Introduction to the History of Christianity in the United States (Minneapolis,
Scripture to advocate for such a despicable practice.28 Historian Mark Noll paints a
sobering picture of this divide over slavery when he asserts “America’s public culture
came to pay less and less attention to the Bible in the decades after the War. One of the
reasons was that Christians had paid it the wrong kind of attention before and during the
War.”29 Examples such as these shore up the notion that what happens within religious
circles will always reflect on society at large, especially athletics. Once again, Noll
illuminates the problem when quoting historian C. C. Goen in regard to the Civil War:
“the ‘broken churches’ led to a ‘broken nation.’”30 We can apply this statement to our
current culture, into the fabric of sport and coaching, using the Catholic church’s dismal
responses to reports of abuse as an example of our current brokenness.31 Although the
Church does not take the full weight of blame in regard to the deceptive mindset of “do
whatever you want without consequence,” our self-centeredness has been the cause of
much turmoil and strife within society at large. Truly, the Las Vegas marketing model is
false, Christians bought into it for centuries (directly or indirectly), and we are paying for
it. Another edge of the problematic sword, has to do with our misguided “me-ness.”32
28 Koester, LOC 2524-2533 & 2571-2594.
29 Mark A. Noll, A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada (Grand Rapids, MI:
W.B. Eerdmans, 2001), 333.
30 Ibid., 317.
31 David Eggert, "Bill Spurred by Nassar Scandal Concerns Catholic Church," U.S. News &
World Report, February 27, 2018, accessed March 3, 2018,
https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2018-02-27/bill-spurred-by-nassar-case-concerns-catholic-church.
32 If you notice, the “M” & “E” are found left of center within the name of our nation. I find this a
The United States of A-ME-rica
The popular Netflix show “Last Chance U” tracks a junior college football team
through their crucial season, giving insight behind the scenes of a championship caliber
program. The documentary is based on the premise these young athletes have one last
shot at going pro and most of the athletes are fighting for recognition. Some on the
football squad were dropped from a Division I NCAA school and wrestle with being
demoted to a Junior College level. Many of the guys come from rough neighborhoods
and struggle academically. Throughout the coaching staff, starting with the head coach on
down, it is evident that only thing that matters is winning. In it’s first season, former
Florida St. recruit, quarterback John Franklin III, never thought he would be playing for a
JUCO.33 Franklin makes it clear during an interview, his main goal is to do what needs to
be done in order to return to playing Division I football. The Eastern Mississippi
Community College (EMCC) quarterback states: “At the end of the day, yeah, it is all
about the team but, you got to worry about yourself too a certain extent because I came
here for one reason and one reason only and that’s to get me back to the level I know I’m
supposed to be at.”
This documentary reveals a growing cancer within sport, from coaches to parents
to the media and athletes themselves: it is all about M, E, ME. It is all about making it
into the National Football League (NFL) and doing whatever it takes to get there. The
players understand this, as well as the coaches. Head coach Buddy Stevens was brought
to Eastern Mississippi Community College specifically because he is known to win…and
win he has. The camera crew follows his team for an entire season, with an expectation
and anticipation they will achieve three league titles in a row. The coaching staff views
everything their athletes do or do not do through a narrow lens: perform well and you will
get playing time. The blame for this “me” mentality does not solely fall upon the
shoulders of modern day coaches.
At the risk of “beating a dead horse,” one facet of the coaching problem (the
human condition as a whole) has to do with American “me-ness,” which is evidenced in
documentaries such as “Last Chance U.” In other words, individualism rules while
communitarianism withers away; the language of “me” and “other” has swallowed up
“we” and “one another.” Examples of this can be traced to early American religion with
Protestant denominations huddling, Catholic and Orthodox churches taking shots at each
other and huddling as well. It seems as if every Christian denomination worried about
themselves rather than celebrate different expressions of our faith, challenge what needs
to be challenged with love, and cross denominational lines for the good of humankind.
One such incident took place amidst World War I where Lutherans, Catholics,
Mennonite, and others were hassled and threatened because of their German roots. These
denominations became targets as anti-German propaganda spilled out of churches and
into American society.34 German Christians were labeled and harassed, amongst other
things, pressured to abandon their heritage and unique Christian expression.35 This World
War I example is reminiscent of what is taking place today within America—where it
seems no one is allowed to hold an alternative opinion as another without being labeled,
34 Koester, LOC 4803-4814.
harassed, or pressured to abandon, with little room given for dialogue and kind-hearted
disagreement. As king Solomon wisely said many centuries ago, there is truly nothing
new under the sun, including me-ness.36
As America turned inward and reflected on the Great War, many Christians felt a
weight of guilt set in for being such propagandists during its time.37 In addition to this,
the European Enlightenment hit the shores of American religion hard. The two competing
sides were liberals (modernists) and conservatives (fundamentalists) and both had plenty
of mud to fling at one another. As the battle would be for control over church institutions,
seminaries, colleges, and overall belief, the world would be watching a very public, and
at times un-Christian, conflict.38 Rather than seeking ways to reach across lines of
denomination and tribe for the good of all, conservative “cultural Christianity” began to
form. As liberal and conservative clashed, division and disagreement took place between
fundamentalists as well.39 Although The Church as a whole came together across
denominational lines in 1966, 1971, and 1974, also forming the World Council of
Churches (WCC), all attempting to “breathe unity” across post-Christian Europe,40 the
36 Ecclesiastes 1:9.
37 Koester, LOC 4936. Dr. Koester uses the term “religious patriotism” in describing Christians’
support of the Great War. This is quite a palpable descriptor, which could be easily applied toward coaching and athletics.
38 Koester, LOC 4952-4958.
39 Ibid., LOC 5065, 5088.
damage of isolationism and acid of anthropocentrism within American Christianity had
been done, thanks in part to the Enlightenment.41 Truly, the modern movement was
centered around the idea of humanity being center and, whether through osmosis or on
purpose, American Christianity wrestled with adoption and adaptation—adopting the
Holy Spirit inspired pieces and adapting to the drastic cultural shifts in order to be
affective.
It is no wonder Christian coaches derive most of their expertise from societal
models. Part of what has spilled over into culture at large, including sport, is
narrow-mindedness and anthropomorphism which many churches have succumbed to instead of
resisting. Inevitably, what has taken place within athletic coaching is a mentality of a sort
of player/coach business transaction: “You do this for me and I will do this for you.”
Referring back to coach Stevens, if his athletes “don’t lay an egg” during games and win
championships for he and the school, they have a high chance of Division I play—
possibly the NFL. The tone has me-ness written all over it, and takes us further into the
problem of some current coaching philosophies.
Transactional Coaching; Transfigurative Metaphor
In a recent coaching catastrophe, University of Southern California, a prestigious
school both academically and athletically, experienced trouble within the athletic
worldwide evangelism, church planting, humanitarian efforts, and more. Although there are remnants of liberalism vs. conservatism among issues such as sexuality, gender identity, immigration, and so forth, followers of Jesus are faced with an opportunity to capitalize on the connectedness of our world by focusing on the mission of our King.
41 Roger E. Olson, The Journey of Modern Theology: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction
department. The university eventually fired head football coach Steve Sarkisian for
arriving to practices, press conferences, and even games, intoxicated.42 Making further
negative headlines, head football coach of the New Orleans Saints Sean Payton, was
suspended the entire 2012/13 season and defensive coordinator Greg Williams suspended
indefinitely. These individuals developed and covered up a “crush-for-cash” bounty
system which doled out money to defensive players for attempting to injure and/or take
opposing players out of the game.43 The effects of negligent coaching can also be
witnessed from the athlete’s perspective. During a tightly contested professional
basketball game, the Sacramento Kings’ Rudy Gay stumbled upon Toronto Raptors’ star
DeMar DeRozan’s lost shoe. In an extreme demonstration of poor sportsmanship, Gay
proceeded to throw the shoe into the crowd.44 To date, no apology was submitted or
disciplinary action taken by the head coach for this unpleasant behavior. Domestic
violence cases, drug abuse, excusing poor behavior, covering up scandals, excessive
partying, and drunk driving—it is clear something has gone haywire in athletics, and
coaches across America are emulating and imitating what is shown. Our culture is primed
now, more than ever, for an alternative approach to coaching.
The majority of today’s coaching methodology could fall under the category of
what Joe Ehrmann,a highly revered coach and former first round NFL draft pick, refers
42 Gary Klein and David Wharton, "Steve Sarkisian Fired as USC's Football Coach," Los Angeles Times, October 12, 2015, accessed November 28, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/uscnow/la-sp-sarkisian-fired-usc--coach-20151012-story.html.
43 "Saints' Payton Banned One Year for Bounties," ESPN.com, March 22, 2012, accessed
November 28, 2016, http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/7718136/sean-payton-new-orleans-saints-banned-one-year-bounties.
44 "Gay Subtly Throws DeRozan's Shoe into Crowd - ESPN Video," ESPN.com, November 20,
to as a “Transactional Coaching” style.45 The coach operates within a quid pro quo
mentality, looking for what they can get out of coaching rather than what they can give,
ignoring “athletes’ developmental needs and often” manipulating and distorting the
values of winning and losing.46 As eluded to in the introduction, coaches tend to emulate
and imitate other coaches. The “ESPN sportscasters set an example that youth league
coaches tend to follow the next day.”47 With the tendency to replicate coaching strategies
across recreational and competitive leagues, transactional approaches go virtually
unnoticed and rarely challenged. In light of historical actualities, the Church is as much at
fault for this quid pro quo approach as sacralized culture. Undoing what has been done
requires a new metaphor, from transaction to transfiguration.
Ehrmann wisely asserts that coaching should be “based on a bold conviction that
sports can help transform our young people…I believe that coaches have the power,
platform, and position to be the linchpins in individual and social transformation—player
by player, team by team, teachable moment by teachable moment.”48 With respect,
however, a transformational approach is still in danger of falling prey to transactional
demons. A goal, as worthy as it sounds, to be transformed in order to make a better
society and person, whispers transactionalism simply because transformation is outward
by definition—one become like another. Whereas, a transfigurative metaphor is
dependent on the Spirit, who works from the inside, drawing out individual’s humanity
45 Ehrmann, 6-7.
46 Ibid., 7.
47 Ibid., 80.
according to Jesus—the fullest expression of what it means to be human.49 To be fair,
much good has taken place within the transformational approach to coaching, also known
as “positive coaching.” The Positive Coaching Alliance is one example of a group
resourcing coaches, administrators, parents, and players to use sport as a platform to build
better people and teach life lessons over merely winning.50 The alliance has won awards
and is truly making a powerful impact in the world of athletics.51 The purpose is not to
tear down this approach but highlight an alternative metaphor.
In both Matthew and Mark’s gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, there is a point where
Christ leads His disciples Peter, James, and John upon a high mountain to be alone
together. The narrator tells us Jesus became “transfigured before them, and his face
shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.”52 Fast forward to Paul’s letter
to the Roman Christians, in a well-known portion of Scripture he encourages the
followers to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”53 In both of these verses,
including Second Corinthians 3:18, the Greek word used is metamorphoō, which literally
49 Leonard Sweet, "Jesus Calms the Storm" (lecture, Orcas Advance, Orcas Island, Eastsound,
May 31, 2017).
50 David Bornstein, "The Power of Positive Coaching," The New York Times, October 20, 2011,
accessed March 3, 2018, https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/the-power-of-positive-coaching/.
51 "PCA's Mission & History," accessed March 3, 2018,
https://www.positivecoach.org/mission-history/.
52 Matthew 17:2 & Mark 9:2. Emphasis mine.
means to take upon a different physical form or appearance;54 “to remodel.”55 The
translation into words such as “transform” and “transformation” betrays the symbolism
early writers were attempting to animate. The translation in Romans and others are not
necessarily wrong descriptors of metamorphoō, simply not the most captivating of the
Greek language. A more robust use of the term should be “morph” or “transfigure.”The
Middle English forme means to “mold, model, or sort.”56 Transformation carries with it a
lateral movement—change from one form over to the next such as what was found in
colonialism—which is outside-in. Transfiguration, however, begins and ends with person
or object, which is inside-out. The Middle English term figūra, means “shape” and
implies everything that exists or will be, is already available from within.57 This is why
we confidently claim Jesus shows us what we are meant to humanly become and as
Christ lives within us, “the more we release and unleash His presence in us.”58 The
transfigure metaphor translates into the world of sports. The Christian coach is not
simply looking to push their athletes from one form to the next, but to pull out what is
already within the God-given disposition of individuals.
54 Johannes P. Louw and Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Based on Semantic Domains, electronic ed. of the 2nd edition, vol. 1 (New York, NY: United Bible Societies, 1989), 586.
55 Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey W. Bromiley, eds., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, electronic ed. vol. 4 (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964), 755.
56 Dictionary.com, s.v. “form,” accessed September 3, 2017,
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/form.
57 Dictionary.com, s.v. “figure,” accessed September 3, 2017,
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/figure.
58 Leonard I. Sweet, "Memes" (lecture, DMIN Advance #2, Jupiter Hotel, Portland, June 20,
The metaphor we can easily turn to is a caterpillar becoming a beautiful
butterfly—it is the same insect taking on a completely different shape. Jesus is no less
Jesus when He transfigures into a completely different figure. When the Apostle Paul
explains to his readers they should be “metamorphoō by the renewal of” their minds, he
is purposely capturing and reminding us of the magnificent scene we read about with
Jesus and His disciples. When it comes to the Christian coach, words and metaphor
matters; metaphor is power.59 Transfiguration takes place when a coach points out the
best in an athlete, no matter their skill level, no matter how short or long they perform at
that level. Unfortunately, coaches can get the metaphor wrong and bogged down into a
transactional mindset, simply because it dominates our culture.
Despite how well intentioned many coaches are, a major problem found within
current coaching lies in the tendency to disregard the pitfalls of toxic cultural standards
by utilizing influence to incentivize players for better performance in their sport.
Kentucky basketball coach John Calapari’s motto at UMASS was “Refuse to Lose.”60
Bill Walsh prided himself on perfection in all areas, which, by definition, leaves no room
for improvement and growth.61 Vince Lombardi is famously quoted as saying, “Winning
isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”62 The great Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski
59 Ibid.
60 John Calipari and Michael Sokolove, Players First: Coaching from the Inside Out (New York,
NY: Penguin Press, 2014), 39.
61 Bill Walsh, Steve Jamison, and Craig Walsh, The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership (New York, NY: Portfolio, 2009), 17-18.
emphasizes personal excellence and a desire for his “…team to get better every day.”63 In
addition, legend Phil Jackson builds a case that love is the most essential ingredient for
winning and success in sport.64 Ohio State Football coach Urban Meyer talks about an
“Above the Line Behavior” for the purpose of achieving success on the football field.65
H. A. Dorfman persuades, “The coach who can convey fundamentally sound philosophy
through an appropriate style wins the day. And the players. And, it’s hoped, many
games.”66 Not all of current coaching philosophy is negative; however, much of this type
of coaching builds its foundation upon performance rather than life transfiguration.
Ehrmann, as well as others, have found pitfalls with popular coaching methods and
would agree with the Trappist monk Thomas Merton. Merton claims all men are in
search of meaning and significance; this is the central part of life.67 Therefore, athletics
should be viewed as a means to finding who Jesus crafted us to be; the coach is a
powerful instrument in the hands of the Spirit to nudge, shape, and prod toward becoming
truly human. Too often people view sports as the end instead of the means, and the coach,
intentionally or ignorantly, can use their platform for personal gain. However, we must
get the metaphor right in order to remedy this problem.
63 Mike Krzyzewski and Donald T. Phillips, Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life (New York, NY: Warner Books, 2000), 53-54.
64 Phil Jackson and Hugh Delehanty, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success (New York, NY: Penguin
Press, 2013), 3-10.
65 Urban Meyer and Wayne R. Coffey, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season (New York, NY: Penguin Press, 2015), 5.
66 H. A. Dorfman, Coaching the Mental Game: Leadership Philosophies and Strategies for Peak Performance in Sports, and Everyday Life (Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Pub., 2003), 20.
Among the toxic cultural standards and contributing to a transactional metaphor,
are four major coaching philosophies. First, the Dictator-Coach, embodies the mentality
“my way or the highway.” The greatly beloved and respected former football coach Bill
Walsh of the San Francisco 49ers paints a difficult picture for us: “I was never a
screamer, but everyone knew not to buck me when I’d decided what we were going to do.
Just like Mike Holmgren, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, and many others, I was
unswerving in moving toward my goal. Once I have accumulated and evaluated the
available information, I did it my way. And so should you (emphasis mine).”68 A gentler
descriptor of this philosophy can be called the “Command Style” of coaching,69 which
has little to no room for a “players first” mentality.70
Often labeled a tyrant, the dictator notoriously creates an environment of fear,
panic, and intimidation.71 The main transaction found in this coaching philosophy tells
players how to think and behave, in order to achieve the goals, success, and “Standards of
Performance,”72 as defined by the coach. Football legends Paul William “Bear” Bryant
and Vince Lombardi are prime examples of coaches who embodied this philosophy.
“Coaches can either break young people’s psyches or build their souls.”73 The
Dictator-Coach accomplishes the former.
68 Walsh, 79.
69 Rainer Martens, Successful Coaching (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1997), 11.
70 Calapari, 10, 40.
71 Walsh, 77.
72 Ibid., 17.
The second coaching style is the Bully-Coach. This is a straightforward
descriptor, readily understood simply because of the bullying phenomenon amongst
children and adolescents within American culture. A bully is manipulative, often irate,
and in some cases verbally abusive. This coaching philosophy takes advantage of an
athlete’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities in order to gain leverage to achieve a desired
goal or outcome. The Bully-Coach views their athletes as a means to an end, forfeiting
opportunities to speak to the soul of an athlete. Coach Krzyzewski has a great attitude,
which challenges the bully: “…Coaching basketball is still my vehicle for relationships
and friendships. In fact, coaching basketball is my vehicle for life itself—for the larger
journey…At the end of every season, I don’t think so much about the number of games
we won or how far we got on the road to the national championship. Rather, I think about
all the kids on the team and what we lived through together that year.”74
The Bully-Coach is nearsighted, ignoring their internal brokenness and lacks the
awareness of what triggers them. “A trigger can be a thought, feeling, or situation that
taps into an old injury or insult, igniting overwhelming feelings of anger, shame, or
anxiety. Triggering can lead to distorted reactions and uncontrolled outbursts of anger,
rage, and abusiveness and an assortment of reactive behaviors. Not to mention tons of
regret.”75 It is important to note bullying is not unique to the secular arena. The Christian
coach is just as susceptible to negative coaching philosophies and must be aware of
his/her triggers lest they fall into a philosophy of bullying to get what they desire. Most,
74 Krzyzewski, 273.
if not all, of the Bully-Coach’s actions come from a dehumanizing posture and thus, is
dangerous.
The third strategy resides in the Pushover-Coach. This philosophy takes on the
visual of a babysitter, with the tendency to take more of a “Business as Usual”
mentality.76 This minds state can consequently morph into neglect and irresponsibility.77
Another title for this philosophy is, “The nice-guy/girl Coach.”78 This type of coach fears
being viewed as Attila the Hun and subsequently assumes the role of Mr. Rodgers or
Martha Stewart.79 In addition, a Pushover-Coach embodies the belief it is their
responsibility to be everyone’s friend, attempting to make her athletes happy while
lacking the ability to challenge poor behavior and have control over her locker room. In
other words, this coach excessively empathizes with players at the expense of healthy
boundaries.80
The transaction with the Pushover-Coach is much more subtle than the others.
They seek validation via their athletes accepting and “liking” them.81 Nice-guys tend to
be people-pleasers with low self-esteem.82 University of Nebraska head football coach
Mike Riley, although greatly loved by his players, tends to personify this philosophy. A
fictional visual of a pushover can be found in the movie The Waterboy starring Adam
76 Walsh, 30.
77 Martens, 12.
78 Dorfman, 175.
79 Ibid., 177.
80 Ehrmann, 83.
81 Ibid.
Sandler. In the now classic flick, college football head coach—played by actor Henry
Winkler—Coach Klein struggles to gain any sort of respect from fans, players, and the
broader college football world.83 He/She shy’s away from conflict, is indecisive, and
constantly overrun by others. An insecure coach such as this, can create an environment
of unease, uncertainty, and vulnerability.
In a sports market filled with big egos, pride, and arrogance, the final coaching
philosophy of the Narcissist-Coach is widely evident. A coach that operates as prima
donna, ensures the team’s mission centers around their reputation which becomes a vain
attempt to make themselves look good. This philosophy cases a multitude of trouble. The
narcissist craves the spotlight and the focus of the team turns to one individual. Similar to
the Greek god Narcissus who fell in love with his reflection, the team becomes a personal
mirror reflecting a coach’s self-worth and goals. By definition, the Narcissist-Coach is
psychologically obsessed with himself/herself, causing significant trust issues at the core
of their team.84
Within this philosophy, sportsmanship tends to fly out the window. It seems like
the majority of times, a Narcissist-Coach will choose to run up the score over backing
down. They have difficulty taking responsibility for failure, often resorting to the blame
game. It is common to witness complaining, frequently throwing athletes and staff under
the bus in order to save face publicly. Prime examples of this philosophy are former
Buffalo Bills football coach Rex Ryan, in his earlier coaching years, and former
83 "The Waterboy (1998)," IMDb, accessed September 16, 2017,
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120484/?ref_=nv_sr_1.
84 Dictionary.com, s.v. “narcissist,” accessed December 16, 2016,
Argentine superstar and national soccer (football) manager Diego Maradona. A
Narcissist-Coach can suck out any enjoyment in playing for the love of the game85 while
inhibiting imagination, cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.86
An even more dangerous piece to this approach are the subtle and manipulative
ways in which coaches use their team and/or individuals to validate themselves and
stroke their own egos. Like humans in general, a Narcissist-Coach finds his/her validation
and value in team performance, achieving certain goals, being feared and “respected” by
individuals, being in control, having power, and a host of other things. Furthermore, a
narcissist may find ways to cloak his/her personal agenda in team language, creating
toxic environments directly or indirectly. With this description in mind, the
Narcissist-Coach can be the most dangerous of all approaches discussed and should be avoided at
any cost.
Summary
The problem within sport, and coaching as a whole, is obvious and disturbing. In
the Summer of 2017, high school cheerleading coach Ozell Williams was fired for
holding onto several cheerleaders and pushing them into the splits position during
practice.87 Recently, superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott was suspended by the NFL for
85 Krzyzewski, 273; Ehrmann, 90.
86 K. R. Ginsburg, "The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and
Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds," Pediatrics 119, no. 1 (2007): 182-184, doi:10.1542/peds.2006-2697.
87 Amy Held, "Denver High School Cheerleading Coach Fired After Videos Show 'Forced Splits,'"
NPR, August 26, 2017, accessed September 3, 2017,
six games due to a year long investigation into domestic-abuse charges brought by his
ex-girlfriend.88 In the middle of the arbitration hearing, it was reported Elliott admitted to
heavy drug use and drinking during his college years at Ohio State, yet never failed a
drug test.89 Currently, there appears to be a “rules do not apply” mentality within the
athletic realm. We have bought into the dangerous adage “what happens here, stays
here,” which continues to trickle down into college basketball, youth soccer leagues,
kids’ t-ball, and the like. We are privy to Pop Warner coaches who throw
temper-tantrums at a blown call, Little League coaches threatening seventeen year old umpires,90
and many other outlandish examples of boorish behavior in youth coaching. Obviously
there are many stories of coaches who are encouraging, inspiring, and ethical leaders,
attempting to make a difference. The problem remains, with more and more stories of the
former coming out, there is room for an alternative approach. It is imperative that
followers of Jesus challenge coaching philosophies mainly peddled by individuals or
society at large.
The problem of transactional coaching is nothing new and religion in America has
done her fair share to contribute. Cross-denominational fighting, schisms, colonialism,
Catholic versus Protestant, territorialism, public slander over disagreements, violence
88 Will Brinson, "Why Ezekiel Elliott Could Still Start Week 1, Where to Draft Him in Fantasy,"
CBSSports.com, September 3, 2017, accessed September 3, 2017,
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-ezekiel-elliott-could-still-start-week-1-where-to-draft-him-in-fantasy/. Even though he continues to be under scrutiny and investigation, Elliott has yet to miss a game this season.
89 John Breech, "Ezekiel Elliott Testifies under Oath that He Liked to Do Drugs at Ohio State,"
CBSSports.com, September 3, 2017, accessed September 3, 2017,
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ezekiel-elliott-testifies-under-oath-that-he-liked-to-do-drugs-at-ohio-state/.
toward one another, and slavery have all spilled over into and parallel what is happening
in society at large. The “me-ness” disease found within America has part of its roots in
the insider, inwardly-focused, self-centered acts, and consumeristic approach of the
historical Western Church. Followers of Jesus are not solely to blame, but have failed in
part to accurately re-present Jesus in a way that entices one another toward
neighborly-ness rather than me-neighborly-ness. Sport and coaching is only one example of a pandemic issue.
Since the beginning of sport, coach and athlete alike have been prone to
selfishness and corruption, yet fan bases continue to increase alongside spending; salaries
continue to increase as morality seems to decrease. In 2015, long time FIFA President
Sepp Blatter was removed from office and banned for eight years after an onslaught “of
corruption allegations.”91 When we have some of the most powerful men and women in
sport conducting themselves unethically, why are we surprised a high school cheer coach
crosses the line ethically with a thirteen-year old girl? Why do we shake our heads in
disgust at the off-field antics of many athletes such as Ezekiel Elliott? Indeed, there is
something very wrong taking place and coaching can be a solution or contributor to the
problem. In Section II, we will explore some of the current approaches or methods
coaches are and have used. We will discover most of these approaches spawn from a
transactional or transformational metaphor, however, there are several positives within
current alternative solutions.
91 "Sepp Blatter: End of Era for Fifa Boss," BBC News, December 21, 2015, accessed September
25
SECTION II: ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
Introduction
It is imperative we do not leave Section I feeling as if the American Church has
only damaged athletics and culture as a whole, but recognize the historical role Western
versions of Christianity have played in the problem of coaching philosophy and methods.
Indeed, much good has taken place due to athletes’ generosity and platform, in which
followers of Jesus have led the way. According to several sources, faith-based
organizations make up the bulk of disaster recovery efforts and Christians are among the
most generous with more than just their money.92 In response to both hurricane Harvey
and Irma, Paul Singer of USA Today writes: “In a disaster, churches don’t just hold bake
sales to raise money or collect clothes to send to victims; faith-based organizations are
integral partners in state and federal disaster relief efforts.”93 Gobbling up his fair share
of the social media world, defensive end for the Houston Texans J. J. Watt has raised
some 30 million dollars via social media, through his organization “Justin J. Watt
Foundation,” for Hurricane Harvey Relief.94 Without a doubt, Watt’s family and friends
92 Paul Singer, "Faith Groups Provide the Bulk of Disaster Recovery, in Coordination with
FEMA," USA Today, September 13, 2017, accessed September 16, 2017,
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/09/10/hurricane-irma-faith-groups-provide-bulk-
disaster-recovery-coordination- fema/651007001/?utm_source=Colson%2BCenter%2BMaster%2BList&utm_campaign=b48b654fbd- EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_06_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_84bd2dc76d-b48b654fbd-8952877.
93 Ibid.
94 Aaron Wilson, "J.J. Watt Hurricane Relief Fund Hits $30 Million," Houston Chronicle,
played a role in the shaping of his character, including some of his coaches throughout
the years. However, the body of Christ has set an unprecedented example worth
following during these types of philanthropic endeavors.95
Coaches, athletes, and organizations are not limited to monetary generosity.
Although transactional in his approach, Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman views her
coach Mihai Brestyan as a huge encourager and someone she goes to whenever facing
personal issues.96 In regard to Christian coaches, one athlete expressed their gratefulness
to have played for someone who was patient and emphasized team bonding.97 Another
told of their coach’s passion, ability to lose well, positive interaction, and focus on the
heart of a player rather than merely the “W.”98 High school football coach Rob Shader
cites his core philosophy revolves around love: “Love the sport. Love the referees. Love
the other people playing. Love the team.”99 Coach Benedict shared how one of his desires
is to make sure when every athlete leaves his program, they had a positive experience
which equipped them for their future.100
Through personal interviews and research, it is clear many coaches truly care for
their athletes and view themselves as playing an intricate part in the human development
95 Although Watt has not professed faith in Jesus, his example is one worth noting and learning
from.
96 Meredith Vieira, "Olympic Gold Medalist Aly Raisman Praises Coach Mihai Brestyan For Pep
Talk Motivation (OVERSHARE)," YouTube, November 18, 2013, accessed September 9, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmH501xaR8U.
97 Kali Bravo, "Christian Coaching Philosophy: An Athlete's Perspective," interview by author,
September 16, 2017.
98 Megan Benedict, "Christian Coaching Philosophy: An Athlete's Perspective," interview by
author, September 23, 2017.
99 Rob Shader, "Christian Coaching Philosophy," interview by author, October 3, 2016.
of these individuals. Coaches are esteemed as role models, mother/father figures,
mentors, confidants, and influential long after the athlete’s playing days. Although much
of the unethical feats dominate the press, much good has and continues to take place in
sport due to caring coaches. Whether a facet or in its totality, many are aware of the
problem and work hard at correcting it through their own coaching philosophy. With
regard to this truth, alternative approaches to the problematic transactional coaching
philosophies are about as many as there are coaches, with a plethora of variances. The
goal of section II will be to funnel down the plurality of current day solutions into a select
general few.
The Mentor-Coach Approach: Relationship Over Results
Not every coach in athletics believes yelling, cussing, and leading with an iron fist
is a necessary evil to sport competition. On the other side of the coin, not every coach
who exercises meekness, calmness, and an overall gentle disposition, is the “pushover”
coach touched on toward the end of section I. Amidst the different approaches to
coaching athletes, a Christian coach can possess many different types of traits which have
little to do with their approach to coaching.101 For instance, a loud and gregarious
individual can be laissez faire in his or her coaching style and a quiet individual an
authoritarian. To be sure, traits have bearing on approach, but all too often they are
confused as the same thing. For the first alternative philosophy, the mentor-coach values
relationship above all else. Both the loud and quiet, extrovert and introvert, serious and
playful, can be found within this approach. Whereas many transactional approaches are
first and foremost oriented toward winning at the expense of losing the relationship with
an athlete, the mentor-coach flips the script. A primary goal and purpose is always to win
the person first. In winning the individual, you inevitably win over the hearts, respect,
and play of athletes, which can lead to winning games.
Coach Erik Ihde is such an individual. When you first interact with this girls
varsity soccer coach, it is apparent why he is loved beyond equal. Whimsical and witty,
coach utilizes his personality to win over athletes with authenticity and lacks a sort of
superciliousness which tends to creep its way in high school varsity sports. When
interviewing a former athlete of his, one of the most appreciated piece of coach Ihde’s
philosophy has to do with an emphasis on team-bonding. “It wasn’t just about playing
soccer together. It was all about knowing the person you are playing with.”102 For
instance, each year when the varsity squad is announced initiation takes place,
culminating with a pitched tent in coach’s front yard and a huge breakfast the next
morning around the table.103 For this seasoned coach, X’s and O’s are not the number one
consideration in terms of getting the best out of athletes, however, journeying with his
athletes equals success on and off the soccer pitch.104
In the opening paragraphs of his first book Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy sets up its
trajectory and his philosophy by stating football, coaching, and life as a whole, is a
journey: “it is all about the journey—mine and yours—and the lives we can touch, the
102 Kali Bravo.
103 This “initiation” is not equivalent to “hazing,” but is much more light-hearted. For Ihde’s girls,
it includes challenges such as eating a bug or drinking some unappetizing concoction.
legacy we can leave, and the world we can change for the better.”105 The Super Bowl
winning coach sees football and his platform as a means to do more than merely win on
Sundays, but centered upon people—journeying with them and sharing what true success
looks like.106 It is safe to say Dungy was and is one of the most widely respected coaches
in all of professional sports and is a great example of the mentor-coach approach.
Elsewhere, he charts out a series of traits, leadership attributes, and relational
qualities every mentor-coach should possess—one of which—is the importance of being
available and approachable.107 A mentor approach to athletics expects the coach to make
space for teaching, interaction, and demonstrating care for those on the team. Once again,
Coach Ihde lives out this philosophy: “If a kid does not know you care, they won’t listen
to your instructions and criticisms. Every critique or challenge has been prefaced with
three or four statements on how valuable they are to me and the team.”108
This intentionality inevitably adds value to the individual and builds trust between
player and coach and teammates. Dungy shifts the typical transactional paradigm by
defining a mentor leader as one who asks how each decision can benefit others and the
team as a whole. When applied specifically to a coach, goals and expectations are
adjusted according to each athlete’s skills, role, personality, background, etc. In other
105 Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker, Quiet Strength: A Memoir (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale
House Publishers, 2007), xiv-xv.
106 Ibid., xvi.
107 Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker, The Mentor Leader (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House
Publishers, 2010), 89. Coach Dungy uses the term “leader,” applying his principles to all aspects of life. Much of his content is geared toward athletics, therefore, I drop “leader” and add “coach” for the purposes of my research.
words, each player is coached as an individual part of a larger organism. General desired
outcomes are expressed for the entire team, with each individual playing a specific part in
achieving whatever “success” looks like. The mentor coach focusses on investing in
people, not necessarily on-field results, helping the athletes they lead get to where they
are going, together.109 This concept is especially crucial when it comes to those coaching
within youth sports. Youth sport psychologists Ronald Smith and Frank Smoll, coin this
priority a “Mastery Approach to Coaching,” which utilizes relationships to motivate
athletes toward mastering their sport and motivating them to perform at their best
ability.110 The authors claim by implementing and emphasizing a developmental model,
the inevitable result becomes quality experience, team cohesion, an increase in fun and
self-esteem, and much more.111 In other words, a mentor coach recognizes the priority of
personal growth over wins and losses. To sum up the mentor style, this particular coach is
marked by a lateral approach to leadership rather than top-down, communal instead of
dictatorial, and investing into versus getting out of players. This concept of coaching will
get unpacked more in section III, with an emphasis on the Holy Spirit working through
apprenticing. If the mentor-coach philosophy focuses on building into for the long haul, a
moral approach to coaching emphasizes what the game pulls out of individual athletes.
109 Dungy, The Mentor Leader, 22.
110 Ronald Edward Smith and Frank L. Smoll, Sport Psychology for Youth Coaches: Developing Champions in Sports and Life (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2012), 29.
The Moral Approach: Ethics Over Ethos
In his book Sport, Philosophy, and Good Lives, Randolph Feezell makes short
order of former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel. In a chapter specifically designed
to shred Tressel’s approach to coaching, taking issue with any philosophy focusing on
educating athletes for life not merely winning in their desired sport. “Tressel’s book is
motivated by the pretentious desire to impart ‘wisdom,’ yet its methods are inappropriate
to such context, and his knowledge of the tradition and complexities of ethical reflection
is absurdly incongruent with his desires.”112 Though harsh toward a well respected
Christian coach, Feezell bases his critique on a belief that ethical behavior and morality
will arise out of or from within athletes as they participate in sport, not via “ethical
instruction” from the coined “coach as sage.”113 In other words, sport itself gives
opportunity for virtue to emerge as individuals engage in actions which promote certain
virtues and to push your own system of belief and principles upon a team is, in and of
itself, unethical.114 Although I appreciate Feezell's assessment, he is a little unfair toward
coach Tressel in that every coach, no matter the religious/non-religious background, is
pushing and peddling certain values and principles based off his/her own worldview.
Nevertheless, one of the reasons a moral approach is so powerful and popular, has to do
with a plague of cheating which has spread throughout American (and world) sport
112 Randolph M. Feezell, Sport, Philosophy, and Good Lives (University of Nebraska Press, 2013),
171.
113 Ibid., 158-159.
114 Feezell pulls a great amount from the likes of Aristotle and Socrates when dealing with sport
history. In his forward to the book Crooked: A History of Cheating in Sports, Maury
Allen makes a whimsically accurate statement: “Cheating is probably as much a part of
American sports today as hot dogs, soda pop, or beer. It is the idea of the competition,
and the element of success that matters.”115 Elsewhere, Feezell states matter-of-factly the
responsibility every coach owns, to teach and model a disdain for cheating regardless its
popularity.116 Because there is ample opportunity to pull out virtue from within sport
participation, the opposite will rear its ugly head as well. This is where a primary moral
philosophy seeks to derail unethical appetites.
According to many researchers, the connection between ethical cultivation and
sport dates back to no later than Plato.117 Historically, athletics has been used as a means
to build character and instill a set of values within all who participate. Within the moral
framework, a coach is responsible to model certain values and behaviors consistent with
those he or she desires players to emulate and recognizes one has tremendous influence
on his or her athlete’s behavior, both individual and communal.118 Success is partially
defined by players exhibiting certain ethical behavior, for the betterment of an individual,
the team, and society as a whole. Coach Joanne McCollie would agree and fit into this
115 Fran Zimniuch, Crooked: A History of Cheating in Sports (Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Pub.,
2009), xi.
116 Randolph M. Feezell, Sport, Play, and Ethical Reflection (Urbana: University of Illinois Press,
2004), 98.
117 M. J. McNamee and S.J Parry, Ethics and Sport (London, UK: E & FN Spon, 1998), 119.
